Chi (90k; 170 COA) or reapply Forum

[aboutmydaylight]

Update:

NYU wouldn't budge on the 75k and I withdrew
Duke upped to 105k but I wasn't satisfied and withdrew
Chicago wouldn't budge on 90k
Withdrew from Columbia after being WL'd; rejected at Yale; WL'd at HLS; likely WL at SLS.

So my only offer on the table now is 90k at Chicago. Is it unreasonable for me to be unsatisfied with that amount? Is re-applying to extreme given the offer and my goals (Cali biglaw)?

You got better options than me and I'm a URM with very similar numbers. Maybe I should be really unsatisfied. I don't know, I like 90k at Chicago. What would be total COA? From what I've read here LA big law is realistic from CC.

[Otunga]

Update:

NYU wouldn't budge on the 75k and I withdrew
Duke upped to 105k but I wasn't satisfied and withdrew
Chicago wouldn't budge on 90k
Withdrew from Columbia after being WL'd; rejected at Yale; WL'd at HLS; likely WL at SLS.

So my only offer on the table now is 90k at Chicago. Is it unreasonable for me to be unsatisfied with that amount? Is re-applying too extreme given the offer and my goals (Cali biglaw with no ties)?

Is that 90k of debt? Or a 90k scholarship offer?

[drawstring]

90k scholarship offer...I should have clarified that. It will leave me around $150k in debt accounting for interest.

[Mal Reynolds]

When did you apply.

[drawstring]

Late October

[Otunga]

90k scholarship offer...I should have clarified that. It will leave me around $150k in debt accounting for interest.

I would be immensely frustrated looking at 150k debt with those numbers. In fact, the whole motivation for me to retake another time for 170+ is that I could potentially get a named full scholarship at the mid-lower t14. More or less, I don't think it'd be unreasonable to re-apply with more work experience and savings under your belt.

[Mal Reynolds]

I don't think U Chicago at that price is bad but it seems like you WAY underperformed your numbers. I might reapply first of september next year and work if you already have a job. This seems like a weird cycle.

[Power_of_Facing]

I don't think U Chicago at that price is bad but it seems like you WAY underperformed your numbers. I might reapply first of september next year and work if you already have a job. This seems like a weird cycle.

If I were you, I'd maybe deposit at UChi and then reapply next year if I didn't get in off a waitlist at HYS.

With an HYS acceptance, UChi might throw some more money at you when you withdraw (this has happened before). 173/4.0 are Ruby-worthy numbers.

[aboutmydaylight]

Maybe I'm still being naive, but isn't 90k from Chicago about what you'd expect with these numbers? Borderline HYS tends to net around this much and looking at LSN this seems par for the course. I think you underperformed your cycle, but not at Chicago.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[Mack.Hambleton]

.

[Nomo]

I actually recommend taking 2 years off before reapplying. I think its good to get in the real world before law school. It might also help you focus on what your goals are, particularly what practice areas might make sense for you.

Some people will talk about the two years of lost earning capacity - but in my experience those who go into law school with a little work experience and a knowledge of what they really want to do are more likely to do well and more likely to get jobs they will be happy in and can succeed in. That could easily lead to more earnings over time. Certainly a better quality of life.

[drawstring]

90k at Chicago is a pretty standard offer for my numbers and I can't blame them for not bumping it up given what I tried to negotiate with. I just wonder if I could get a better outcome next cycle.

I actually recommend taking 2 years off before reapplying. I think its good to get in the real world before law school. It might also help you focus on what your goals are, particularly what practice areas might make sense for you.

Some people will talk about the two years of lost earning capacity - but in my experience those who go into law school with a little work experience and a knowledge of what they really want to do are more likely to do well and more likely to get jobs they will be happy in and can succeed in. That could easily lead to more earnings over time. Certainly a better quality of life.

I'm on the older side for a KJD because I started university a year late due to work demands, and I took an extra year to graduate for the same reason. If I waited two more years I'd be close to 30 when I graduate, and I'd prefer not to be in that situation.

I've done substantive work at a law firm for over a year, and I'm pretty sure law is what I want to do (at least among the realistic options!).

[Power_of_Facing]

Maybe I'm still being naive, but isn't 90k from Chicago about what you'd expect with these numbers? Borderline HYS tends to net around this much and looking at LSN this seems par for the course. I think you underperformed your cycle, but not at Chicago.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

This. It's possible to get a Ruby with a 173 (or even 172), but generally it's 174/175+

90k is probably the most commonly given scholly for CCN for these numbers

Interesting -- and looking at LSN this seems true for UChi. I would have thought being above both 75ths puts one in good contention for more than 90k, but apparently not.

I still think it'd be worth the OP's while to deposit at UChi and ride the HS wait lists into the summer. His or her numbers will only become more valuable as classes begin to (potentially) thin out.

[Power_of_Facing]

90k at Chicago is a pretty standard offer for my numbers and I can't blame them for not bumping it up given what I tried to negotiate with. I just wonder if I could get a better outcome next cycle.

I actually recommend taking 2 years off before reapplying. I think its good to get in the real world before law school. It might also help you focus on what your goals are, particularly what practice areas might make sense for you.

Some people will talk about the two years of lost earning capacity - but in my experience those who go into law school with a little work experience and a knowledge of what they really want to do are more likely to do well and more likely to get jobs they will be happy in and can succeed in. That could easily lead to more earnings over time. Certainly a better quality of life.

I'm on the older side for a KJD because I started university a year late due to work demands, and I took an extra year to graduate for the same reason. If I waited two more years I'd be close to 30 when I graduate, and I'd prefer not to be in that situation.

I've done substantive work at a law firm for over a year, and I'm pretty sure law is what I want to do (at least among the realistic options!).

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 4&t=192567

[Mal Reynolds]

What kind of money did you get at Penn/UVA/Berkley.

[drawstring]

Didn't apply.

I applied only at HYS CCN and Duke. Basically I naively thought I would get HLS, SLS, and bigger $ at Columbia, NYU, and Duke (where I applied only due to priority track).

[Mal Reynolds]

Didn't apply.

I applied only at HYS CCN and Duke. Basically I naively thought I would get HLS, SLS, and bigger $ at Columbia, NYU, and Duke (where I applied only due to priority track).

Bro reapply. What the hell were you thinking.

[Mal Reynolds]

Penn if virtually indistinguishable from NYU that was really dumb.

[2014]

I obviously think that Chicago at that price is more than justified and know people paying much much more (i.e. sticker + UG debt) for similar goals. However, I think you will get at worst the same offer next year, so if you don't mind waiting I don't really see the downside. The hiring market isn't likely to get worse so whatever.

[kemosabe]

I'd reapply if you're not excited about your choices. Find the best job or volunteer position related to your current interests and learn a little more. I don't think waiting one more year is a big deal, but then again, I'm a 0L who waited for awhile. Take time to decompress, tweak your application, apply earlier and more broadly. Your numbers are fantastic and you have a great option with Chicago, but there's nothing forcing you to do it now if you're disappointed or not ready to attend.

[Big Dog]

My goal is California (particularly LA) biglaw, although I am a Canadian with my closest link to that area being the fact that I'm on the west coast of Canada.

Have you investigated the possibility of being able to obtain a work visa in the US? (You will need that to service the debt.)

[drawstring]

Yes, it shouldn't be a major problem.

[teampeeta]

I think you might see some movement out of Harvard and/or Stanford. Your stats are very solid and you did have a JS1 which means there's something JS liked about your app (as opposed to some of the people who were WL'd without one).

I would take the 90K at Chicago, stay on the WLs (I'm assuming you'll get WL'd at Stanford) and see what happens. If you get in, you can go or use the offer as leverage to get Chicago to increase your scholarship amount.

Is your ideal scenario HYS or is it a Ruby/Hamilton/Vanderbilt? Because it seems like your numbers are high enough for the first. NYU and CLS are so LSAT-heavy that you might not be looking at full rides there even if you applied in September. If it's a non-numerical thing holding you back, I don't know how different your results would be if you reapplied.

[drawstring]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

My focus was always HYS, but if I couldn't get in there I wanted CCN with as little debt possible at graduation. I'm going to deposit at Chicago, ride the HLS and presumably SLS waitlists for a while, and if there is no action (H/S acceptance or $ increase at Chicago) I'll probably reapply, much more broadly this time. My numbers won't change aside from a negligible GPA drop, but I'll have a bit more WE, a new LOR, and a tighter PS.

[TheSpanishMain]

Are you wailisted at H? Even so I wouldn't be surprised if you got in off the WL

Does it matter though? Is Harvard worth an extra 90k?

You gotta ask yourself what you stand to gain from an HYS acceptance anyway. Would you matriculate even at sticker against 90k at Chicago? How much financial aid do you think you'll get? Is it really worth putting off law school for another year? A 173/4.0 not getting HYS might be irregular but an HYS acceptance is not necessarily your best option in today's market.

Yeah, this, basically.